Aboitiz is set to start work on 200 classrooms benefitting over 13,000 students as part of its post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts for Northern Cebu.

Aboitiz will repair about 130 class rooms and construct about 70 new ones in 28 schools based in Bogo City and San Remigio, which are among the areas hardest hit in Northern Cebu by Typhoon Yolanda.

“We are prioritizing those that are heavily and partially damaged, as opposed to the buildings that are totally damaged, since these are the ones that could immediately be used,” said Aboitiz Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sonny Carpio.

The 15 Bogo-based schools are Anonang Norte ES, Anonang Sur ES, Anonang Sur Tabaco Frasco NHS, Guadalupe ES, Dakit ES, Bogo Central School II, Bogo Central School III, Nailon ES, La Paz ES, Malingin ES, Banban ES, Banban NHS, Binabag ES, Binabag NHS, and Cayang ES; while the 13 San Remigio-based schools are Punta ES, Argawanon IS, Busogon IS, Victoria ES, Kinawahan IS, Mano ES, Lawis ES, Kayam ES, Dapdap ES, Anapog IS, Tacup ES, LambusanES, and Lambusan NHS. They have a combined student population of over 13,000 students.

Classroom repairs may include the repair and / or replacement of roofing, trusses, ceiling, masonry walls, foundation, columns and beam, electrical works (rewiring), doors, windows, blackboard, CR, flooring, painting works, and armchairs. Repaired rooms will have 6 CFL lights, 2 wall fans, red or green painted floors, jalousie windows, and moulding enclosed electrical works.

Construction will start this March and continue all the way up to the last quarter of the year.

Aboitiz construction affiliate, Metaphil, was tapped to do the project to ensure that the rehabilitation project is done on time, on budget, and with the required quality . In particular, new building designs are structurally resistant to major disasters. Metaphil is a registered “Triple AAA” contractor with the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, and has a network which allows communication even with projects on remote locations.

Last year, the Aboitiz Group was able to raise Php203 million for its relief and rehabilitation operations. Carpio said about Php140 million of the total funds will be allocated for the rehabilitation of heavily and partially damaged school buildings from the 1,308 facilities in northern Cebu earlier identified by the Department of Education. Some 29,000 grade school and high school students were displaced when the calamity struck.

Donations came from its various business units namely UnionBank of the Philippines, AboitizPower, SN Aboitiz Power, Inc., and Aboitiz Foundation – including funds culled from cancelled Christmas parties, Aboitiz family, team leaders and members, external donors including actress Sharon Cuneta and other private individuals and corporations, and other donations through U-Share.

Aboitiz Foundation is the social development arm of the Aboitiz Group. For updates on the its Yolanda rehabilitation efforts, visitwww.aboitizfoundation.org or www.Facebook.com/AboitizFoundation or follow @AboitizFDN on Twitter.